Stevens' Swingin' Strings

8th grade afterschool camp

We have an awesome clinician coming to work with the 8th grade group on Thursday! All students are expected to be there, ready to play. Stay after school, eat pizza and get ready to have a wonderful time! Please remember to have all of your music. The camp ends at 7:30 pm.

Thanks so much!

Important LGPE Information

Parents and Students:

Your LGPE performance is almost here!

Remember that 7th grade performs Monday, 2/23. The 8th grade performance is Tuesday, 2/24.

Students will bring their uniforms to school, report to the orchestra room at dismissal, enjoy their pizza dinner, and then change into their uniforms. It is crucial that this process is efficient and orderly.

MORE PARENT VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!

The feeding/changing process can be challenging to monitor, and we need several parents to assist. I am also in need of more parents to travel with us to Dickerson and monitor the group as we move from room to room, and to drive large instruments.

Please remember that there is no transportation home, and that students who play large instruments must take them home and bring them back the following morning.

Thanks so much, and prepare to have a wonderful experience!

Preparatory Rehearsal Schedule

In order to prepare for LGPE and work with the complete orchestra for each grade level, meaning two classes of 7th grade combined, and two classes of 8th grade combined, we will have morning rehearsals as follows:

8th Grade:

Thursday, Feb 5 @ 8 am in the Orchestra room
Tuesday, Feb 10 @ 8 am in the Orchestra room
Thursday, Feb 12 @ 8 am in the Orchestra room
Tuesday, Feb 17 @ 8 am in the Orchestra room

Thursday, Feb 19 CAMP @ 4:30 pm pending

7th Grade

Monday, Feb 9 @ 8 am
Wed, Feb 11
Friday, Feb 13

Tuesday, Feb 17 CAMP @ 4:30 pm pending

February 02, 2009

Large Group Performance Evaluation

Every year orchestras across the state participate in the "Large Group Performance Evaluation", or "Festival", as it used to be called.  This is a major event and is the equivalent to the "CRCT" test for music programs.  Each orchestra will perform three selections of music, each different in style and musical import.  Groups are evaluated by criteria such as tone quality, intonation, technique, balance, interpretation, and musical effect.

We hope every parent will come out and support their child by either chaperoning or attending the performance.  Below are the dates and performance times for each group. Please keep in mind that there is a warm-up 30 minutes before the actual performance time.

7th Grade Orchestra......Monday, February 23 performance at 6:50

8th Grade Orchestra.......Tuesday, February 24 performance at 7:35

We will send home permission packets containing detailed itineraries and maps once our trip plans are finalized.      

Posted at 04:12 PM | Permalink

Every year orchestras across the state participate in the "Large Group Performance Evaluation", or "Festival", as it used to be called.  This is a major event and is the equivalent to the "CRCT" test for music programs.  Each orchestra will perform three selections of music, each different in style and musical import.  Groups are evaluated by criteria such as tone quality, intonation, technique, balance, interpretation, and musical effect.

We hope every parent will come out and support their child by either chaperoning or attending the performance.  Below are the dates and performance times for each group. Please keep in mind that there is a warm-up 30 minutes before the actual performance time.

7th Grade Orchestra......Monday, February 23 performance at 6:50

8th Grade Orchestra.......Tuesday, February 24 performance at 7:35

We will send home permission packets containing detailed itineraries and maps once our trip plans are finalized.      

Important Information for Upcoming Performances

All three grade level orchestras have important performances in the near future. 

7th and 8th grade Orchestras will participate in the 2009 Cobb Orchestra Director's Association Large Group Performance Evaluation. Each grade level travels to another school which is hosting the event, and performs for an audience and panel of judges. 

The date of the 7th grade performance is  Monday, February 23. 

The date of the 8th grade performance is Tuesday, February 24. 

Students will bring uniforms with them to school on the morning of their evaluation, change after school, and ride bus transportation to the host site. Once the performance times have been posted to me, I will send a letter home with a more complete description of the event and what to expect.

7th grade Orch students should be practicing Medieval Wars, Magma and A Shaker Hymn. 

8th grade Orch students should be practicing the Bach Suite, Fantasia on Shenandoah, and the Petite Overture. 

Please practice these pieces diligently, and daily, to perfect your performance. You will have a number of playing tests, and some extra rehearsal time, before the actual event.

7th and 8th Grade Winter Concert

This is a reminder that the Winter Concert is tomorrow, Tuesday. December 9th!

Students need to report to school at 6:30 pm. 7th grade students will get their instruments and immediately go to the stage. 8th grade students will unpack their instruments in the orchestra room, tune carefully, think through the performance process and warm up. The 8th grade group will then take their seats in the theater to listen to the 7th grade group perform. The performances begin at 7pm, each group taking roughly 30 minutes.

7th grade students, remember that you have a morning rehearsal Tuesday at 8 am. There will also be a double rehearsal during Connections.

6th Graders!

The pieces on the 6th grade program are:

Scales
Twinkles
Mary Had A Little Lamb
French Folk Song
Marching Song
Lightly Row
Ode to Joy
Jingle Bells

This is not necessarily the concert order. There could be changes made if needed. Please continue to practice well !!!

First Concerts Approaching!

The 6th Grade Winter Concert is Tuesday, November 18, 2008. There will be two back-to-back 6th grade programs on this evening. The first performacne begings at 7:00, the second at 7:40. The attire for the concert can best be described as "Sunday best". Girls, please make sure that dress or skirt lengths are appropriate. Female cellists must wear long slacks. All students need to arrive at school at 6:20 Tuesday evening. The 6-1 group will take their instruments to the stage, be tuned and warm up. The 6-2 group will take their cases to the covered play area where they will be tuned, and then escorted to the theater to listen to the first group's performance. Due to the size of the classes, I must ask that only the 6-1 families and friends be seated in the theater for their program. The 6-2 family and friends will be seated after the first group completes their concert. PARENT CHAPERONES ARE NEEDED to stay with the groups prior to perfrmances. I'm looking forward to the inaugural 6th grade concerts!

Cheesecake Delivery!

November 04, 2008 CHEESECAKE DELIVERY TOMORROW! Pick-up Times: 2:00-7:00 PM Parents, you may pick up your fundraising items any time between 2:00-7:00 PM on Wednesday, November 5. If you are unable to pick up your items Wednesday, you MUST have someone pick it up for you. There is no room to store perishable products at school. Obviously, these are perishable items that need to be picked up and delivered immediately. Try to deliver all products the day you receive them. If you can't deliver all your products that day, and you cannot fit all your cakes in your refrigerator/freezer, we suggest using a camping cooler with plenty of ice. Be sure to separate product from ice so that the boxes don't get wet. You can store cheesecakes in your cooler for up to 24 hours. It is very important that all fundraising items are delivered in excellent condition. Please make sure you store and carry all items in an upright position. HELP! If you can help in any way, at any time, between 10:00 AM-7:00 PM, please meet us in the Simpson theatre and we will put you to work! We need to unload the truck at 10:00 AM and then start sorting and filling the orders before other parents arrive to pick up their items. We also need parents to man the tables at the beginning of the pick-up line and at check-out. There is no such thing as too much help. If you have an hour or more to spare, please come out tomorrow and give us a hand. "Many hands make light work!" anne.stevens@cobbk12.org

Updates

General announcements:

It is time to turn in the Encore Fundraiser packets. Please bring your envelopes to class so that your orders may be checked and turned in. Mrs. James will be in the Music Department to collect monies and ensure that check totals and order totals are correct.

7th and 8th grade girls are being fitted for uniforms. When the process is complete, we will send home a size and payment slip to all parents of Orchestra girls. They look great!

CONCERT DATES:

6th grade Winter Concert is November 18, 2008. Due to the large size of the 6th grade classes, each class will play as a separate group.

7th and 8th grade Winter Concert date is December 9, 2008. Students will play a selection of festive and traditional concert music.

Playing Test* Playing Test* Playing Test*

Wednesday and Thursday each grade level class will be tested this week. 6th grade will be tested on Twinkle, Mississippi Hot Dog rhythm. Bowhand skills will also be evaluated.

7th Grade students will be tested on "St. Anthony's Chorale".

8th Grade students will be tested on the A Major section of "This Land".